It’s that time of year once again, as SW19 becomes the focus of the sporting world. The most eagerly anticipated fortnight of the tennis season, and a tournament that never fails to hit the headlines, Wimbledon 2022 looks set to provide thrills and spills aplenty – particularly in the women’s event which has a wide-open look to it.
With seven-time champion Serena Williams crashing out in the first round, who will be lifting the Venus Rose Water aloft at the end of this year’s event?”. That, together with quandaries such as William Hill vs Ladbrokes – Which is Better? , is the question on the minds of those betting on this year’s tournament. Let’s take a look at the main contenders.
Iga Świątek
First up is the world’s number one – Polish sensation, Iga Świątek. Only 21 years of age, the daughter of Olympic rower Tomasz Świątek is already in the process of writing her name into the history books. A dual winner of the French Open, her first success in 2020 made her the youngest major singles champion since Maria Sharapova in 2004, and the first Polish player – either male or female – to win one of the sports four biggest events.
Going well in 2022, with a semi-final appearance in Australia in addition to that second Roland Garros success, Iga arrives at the top of her game. An accomplished doubles player, Świątek is comfortable at the net and able to hit winners from all areas of the court – attributes which ought to serve her well on the Wimbledon turf. A winner of the junior title here in 2018, she looks to have solid claims of adding the senior crown to her CV.
Ons Jabeur
Next on the list comes the lady who ended Świątek’s run in the fourth round twelve months ago – Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur. Something of a late bloomer, Jabeur appears to be playing the best tennis of her life at the age of 27. Currently sitting at number 2 in the WTA Rankings, the right-hander is now the highest-ranked African and Arab player in the history of the ATP and WTA rankings system. An achievement of which to be proud, and one Jabeur would no doubt dearly love to embellish with a first career major success.
With three titles on the WTA circuit, Jabeur has proven she possesses the ability to beat the best, and now merely needs to put it all together on the big stage. An entertaining player to watch due to her love of the slice and drop shot, she has the variety in her game to succeed here, and it would be no surprise to see her make a run at the title.
Petra Kvitova
Moving a little further up the age scale, we come to a lady who undoubtedly does have what it takes to go all the way, having lifted this title in both 2011 and 2014. Boasting a pinpoint serve, and a big-hitting game – particularly on the forehand side – 32-year-old Petra Kvitova possesses a skill set ideally suited to this test.
Having failed to make it beyond the third round since winning the second of those titles, the main question surrounding the Czech national is whether her Grand Slam-winning days are now behind her. However, if she is to have a renaissance, it is most likely to come here on the grass-court she knows so well. Storming to the title at Eastbourne in her warm-up for this, Petra may be peaking at just the right time.
Cori Gauff
At the opposite end of the scale to the experienced Kvitova, we find the supremely talented 18-year-old Cori “CoCo” Gauff. Incredibly making her Wimbledon debut in 2018 at the age of just 15 years and 3 months, Gauff made a huge splash that year when stunning five-time winner Venus Williams, before losing to eventual champion Simona Halep in the fourth round – a performance she matched in 2021.
Citing Venus and Serena Williams as her idols, and in possession of the type of powerful, athletic game that ought to suit this surface well, Gauff looks a good bet to follow in their Grand Slam-winning footsteps at some stage. Having posted a career-best effort in making the final of this year’s French Open, it wouldn’t be the biggest shock should the likable teenager achieve that maiden success here.
